EDC 102H F11 Context Reports

Community Data Worksheet - Census Data

Community: Newport

Zip Code: 02848


By: Kelly Lakin and Samantha Morris

Use the data tables below to accumulate data from reliable sources about a particular geographical region of Rhode Island. After you have assembled this information, turn it into knowledge by synthesizing a series of sensible paragraphs.

I. Community Data Collection


A. Income Poverty Data

Year data collected: 2005-2009

To collect data on the state of Rhode Island:
  1. Go to American Factfinder page on the US Census Bureau website
  2. Select Rhode Island from the drop-down menu (do not type into the search field)
  3. Collect data from the Economic Characteristics section
  4. Use other sections to collect additional data as needed

To collect data on your community:
  1. Return to the American Factfinder
  2. Type the name of your community in the “city/town, county, or zip” box
  3. Follow instructions 3 and 4 above


Community
Rhode Island
United
States
Median household income
$56,802
$55,569
$51,425
Median family income
$78,197
$71,037
$62,363
Per capita income
$35,816
$28,638
$26.059
Families below poverty level
5.1%
8.1%
9.9%
Individuals below poverty level
10.6%
11.6%
13.5%
Civilian labor force
13,103
N/A
N/A
Unemployment
4.1%
N/A
N/A










B. Race and Ethnicity Data

Year data collected:

To collect data on the state of Rhode Island:
  1. Use the American Factfinder page to locate the Fact Sheet or either your zip code or the state of Rhode Island
  2. Collect data from the ACS Demographic Estimates section
  3. Use other sections to collect additional data as needed



Community
Rhode Island
US
White
90.5%
82.8%
74.5 %
Black/African Americans
6.0%
5.5%
12.4%
Asian
1.1%
2.7%
4.4%
Hispanic
3.2%
11.4%
15.1%
American Indian or Alaska native
0.1%
0.4%
0.8%






















II. Narrative Description of Community

Use the data you collected above to develop a series of paragraphs that describe your community (zip code) and draw comparisons with the rest of the state and / or district. Here is an example of how to do this.


Newport, Rhode Island is just another city in the state. The economic levels in Newport, RI are relatively high compared to the rest of the country.The median household and family incomes in the city of Newport is slightly higher than in the state of Rhode Island and even in the country; Newport: $56,802, $78,197; Rhode Island: $55,569, $71,037; United States: $51,425, $62,363. The income per capita in Newport ($35,816) is also higher than Rhode Island ($28,638) and the United States ($26,059). Poverty levels increased‍ all throughout the United States (family: 9.9%, individual: 13.5%). Rhode Island specifically has a slightly lower level (family: 8.1%, individual: 11.6%) and if you narrow it down even further to the city of Newport (family:5.1%, individual: 10.6%), it is evenlower. Newport is portrayed as a wealthy city, with all of the beautiful mansions along the coast, but there is a rather large section of the southern part of the island that is full of lower class citizens. There is nothing extravigant about this communtiy that sticks out in the nation; the levels are close to average, especially regarding economics.

Newport is not a very diverse city while being compared to the state of Rhode Island and/or the United States. A large portion of it's people are white(90.5%) compared to the entire state(82.8%), and then to the country(74.5%). Black/African Americans are the next most common in the area, making a 6.0% out of Rhode Island's 5.5%, and the United States' 12.4% The most uncommon race within the city is American Indian or Alaska Native(0.1% in Newport, 0.4% in Rhode Island, and 0.8% in the United States)



  1. US Census Bureau, 2009, http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=ChangeGeoContext&geo_id=16000US4449960&_geoContext=&_street=&_county=newport&_cityTown=newport&_state=04000US44&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=010&_submenuId=factsheet_1&ds_name=ACS_2009_5YR_SAFF&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry=.